Chapter 257. I Wasn't Taught to Let My Guard Down.

The Lecher seemed intent on showing off to the eldest son and even a woman belonging to the Ilbong Iseon, but with me around, such a thing was out of the question.

I was ready at any moment to reveal to the entire Righteous Path that his true identity was a shitter. If I truly set my mind to it, I could make it so that from now on, the first thing people thought of when they heard Pungun Mongga was poop.

I cast a sidelong gaze at Saekma.

‘If you so much as think an indecent thought, you’ll be known as Pungun Poop Manor.’

Soon, the sound of people gathering could be heard, and four handsome men and beautiful women emerged, looking at us.

The man standing at the center spoke.

“Young Master Mong, Lord of Hao Gate, Teacher Yukhap. I am Wi Mugyeol.”

We also rose and exchanged brief courtesies with the members of the Wi Clan.

Wi Mugyeol spoke while heading toward the host’s seat.

“The Patriarch would have been delighted, but it is a pity he is currently away. You all, greet them as well. These are my younger brothers.”

When Wi Mugyeol sat in the host’s seat, those who appeared a year or two younger than him introduced themselves. The men were Wi Mugyeol’s younger brothers named Wi Jungcheon and Wi Taesan, in that order.

The woman who introduced herself last was Wi Soseon. Including the eldest son, Wi Mugyeol, they seemed to be three sons and one daughter. We also introduced ourselves without any special titles.

“I am Mong Yeon.”

“I am I Jaha.”

“I am called Yukhap.”

Wi Mugyeol smiled with an awkward expression, then looked at Saekma, who could not tear his eyes away from Wi Soseon.

“Young Master Mong, I hear you have come to settle the rankings of the Shinnam Six Dragons.”

Saekma nodded.

“Young Master Wi, I shall speak frankly. I never said I wished to join the Six Dragons. It seems I was included in the sobriquet by another’s will, and I find it displeasing that my ranking is suddenly known as the lowest. Since I am already included, let us set the ranking by ability clearly and be done with it.”

Wi Mugyeol smiled slightly and answered.

“Even though that ‘other’s will’ refers to the Alliance Leader, you have many complaints.”

“That is so.”

“Truthfully, it was something we did not know either. Before, it was the Four Dragons. It seems the rumor spread that you are the youngest simply because you joined late, but we were not the ones who spread that rumor. If you have come for sparring, you are welcome, but I wished to confirm whether you had come for some other emotional issue.”

It sounded like a veiled taunt, implying he had come to see Wi Soseon. Or perhaps it was just my twisted mind making it sound that way.

Saekma answered.

“Young Master Wi, I hold no particular feelings toward you.”

Only then did Wi Mugyeol turn his gaze to me.

“These days, I have heard so much of the Lord’s exploits that my ears are calloused—far more than of those belonging to the Six Dragons. There were many absurd rumors, so I wondered if gossip-mongers had inflated them, but meeting you in person like this is a great pleasure.”

He seemed like a chatterbox, so I answered as briefly as possible.

“You flatter me.”

Wi Soseon asked me.

“Lord, are the rumors all true?”

“What rumors have you heard?”

Wi Soseon was indeed a rare beauty, befitting one called of the Ilbong Iseon.

I knew from the start that normal beauties had no interest in me, so I did not feel anything in particular. It was because she did not look like a crazy woman at a glance. She was a beauty without any particular flaw, and it made me think she probably lived a tiring life because of the attention surrounding her.

Wi Soseon spoke.

“You did not even give the Southern Yue Green Forest Alliance a chance to surrender, did you? I heard that the Southern Yue Green Forest Alliance surrendered on its own because they were utterly terrified after being annihilated so cruelly.”

“Hm.”

“The rumor that you are the cruelest young expert in the martial world is rife; I heard that the experts belonging to the Green Forest both hate and fear you the most. They say you were also merciless when dealing with the Dark Path.”

It was too troublesome to make excuses, so I acknowledged it all.

“Well, it seems the rumors have spread that far.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the second son, Wi Jungcheon, snickered. He had laughed quite openly, so the eyes in the room gathered on him. Aware of the gazes, Wi Jungcheon looked at the eldest son and spoke.

“Hyung-nim, settling the ranking of the Six Dragons is welcome news, but if I defeat one person here, do I take the last seat among the Six Dragons?”

Wi Mugyeol spoke in a scolding tone.

“Jungcheon, the Six Dragons is a sobriquet granted with the Alliance Leader’s discerning eye. Do you think you can take that seat so easily? Train for a few more years before challenging them.”

Wi Jungcheon answered immediately.

“It is a match, not a duel to the death. What problem is there if I approach it with the attitude of seeking instruction?”

Wi Taesan, who had been quiet, interjected.

“Second Hyung-nim……”

Wi Jungcheon answered.

“You stay out of it.”

“Yes.”

He was quite an authoritative fellow, so a laugh came out on its own, but I did not laugh out loud on purpose.

‘Is he crazy? He’s asking to fight me.’

The second son, Wi Jungcheon, was a typical young expert of the Righteous Path. It was often the case with wealthy young masters who had trained in martial arts without suffering major setbacks. Of course, men with such personalities sometimes possessed great skill, so ability and character were clearly separate matters.

I accepted the proposal.

“What is so difficult about having one match? Do as you please.”

Wi Jungcheon looked at me with an overbearing gaze.

“How refreshing.”

“It is not that refreshing.”

“…….”

But Wi Jungcheon was not the only one interested in the match. The youngest, Wi Soseon, asked Gwima this time.

“I have also heard many rumors about Teacher Yukhap. Since you have visited together, would you care to spar with either Orabeoni Taesan or myself?”

As expected of children from a martial family, the moment they saw us, they excitedly chattered about fighting.

Gwima answered in a lukewarm tone.

“Very well.”

In truth, if Saekma defeated Wi Mugyeol, the eldest son, there would be no need for the remaining fights. It would only extend the Wi Clan’s humiliation. Perhaps because of this, Wi Mugyeol’s expression was full of displeasure.

Wi Mugyeol pointed toward the great hall doors.

“Let us go to the sparring ring for now.”

We rustled out of the great hall in a crowd.

From what I saw firsthand, the atmosphere did not feel like Wi Mugyeol would easily fall to Saekma. After all, when the martial world was broadly divided into senior and junior generations, Wi Mugyeol was an expert who stood out among the junior group.

While moving to the sparring ring, Wi Jungcheon blabbered like this.

“By the way, shouldn’t the stronger one between Young Master Mong and the Lord of Hao Gate be the one to face our eldest hyung? After all, both of you belong to the Six Dragons.”

Before I could say anything, Saekma answered.

“The two of us fought once before but could not settle the match. It means it does not matter who fights.”

I muttered.

“Back then, you shit……”

Saekma covered my words with a loud voice.

“Can’t you shut up?”

“You surprised me. My eardrums are going to burst.”

Saekma approached from the side and nagged at me in a whispering tone.

“Did you really have to come all the way here to say such things?”

I answered with a bewildered expression.

“No, did I say something I shouldn’t? It was something that actually happened.”

Saekma grabbed my shoulder.

“Lord.”

“What.”

“Let it go. With some class.”

He looked like he would have an outburst, so I let it slide for now.

“Very well.”

As expected of a great family, the sparring grounds had been prepared spaciously in a separate area; there were even chairs placed for spectators to watch the matches. On one side, weapons to be used in sparring were displayed by type—not only various ones from spears to wooden swords, but also leather protective gear. Seeing that there was no dust, it seemed the martial artists of the great family sparred frequently.

Wi Mugyeol went toward where the leather protective gear was and asked.

“Young Master Mong, I do not see a sword. Do you use palm techniques?”

“That is so.”

Wi Mugyeol turned his head and asked Saekma.

“Protective gear is prepared; will you wear it?”

“I do not need it.”

“Of course you wouldn’t.”

Wi Mugyeol wrapped leather guards on his arms and knees. His attitude suggested that wearing protective gear was only natural, so there was nothing to say. Then he went to where the weapons were placed and spoke to Saekma.

“Sorry, but we are a sword family. If Young Master Mong wishes to use a weapon as well, choose from here.”

Wi Mugyeol drew one sword from among the displayed weapons and spoke to us.

“Look at this. I commissioned Unhyangmun to craft it, and Unhyangmun subcontracted it to a place called Yongdu Forge before passing it to us. I have seen many weapons, but this is the first time I have seen a weapon with such a needlessly ornate hilt.”

Wi Mugyeol showed us the dragon-head hilt. Even from afar, it was clearly the work of Geumcheolyong.

Curious about its quality, I asked Wi Mugyeol.

“Eldest son, do you not like the sword?”

Wi Mugyeol drew the sword halfway and examined the blade closely as he spoke.

“The craftsmanship does not seem bad, but the steel feels cheap. It feels as though Unhyangmun commissioned some rural forge to save on production costs. I had originally intended to give it to lower-rank martial artists or new retainers, but it seems it is not even fit for that, so I moved it to the sparring hall.”

As soon as Wi Mugyeol finished speaking, Saekma and Gwima stared at me. It was because he had mocked the quality of Yongdu Forge right in front of me.

I spoke honestly.

“Yongdu Forge is actually under the Hao Gate. If there is a problem with the quality, I apologize.”

Wi Mugyeol swiftly sheathed the sword and placed it back on the display.

“Ah, I did not know that. I apologize if I gave offense.”

Strangely, I did not feel much. If one is an artisan who makes weapons, one must supply good quality regardless of the price. Whether it was an excuse or not was not for me to judge, so I was not angry.

I spoke to Wi Mugyeol in a flat tone.

“I shall convey your opinion to the forge master of Yongdu Forge. He is a hardworking man, so he will improve.”

Wi Mugyeol grasped the sword at his waist and looked at us.

“Do as you please. Lord of Hao Gate, Young Master Mong. Either of you, come out. I do not mind.”

Saekma, who had been beside me, strode out to the sparring ground as if springing forth, stood where the weapons were lodged, grabbed the dragon-head sword from Yongdu Forge that Wi Mugyeol had just put back, and turned around.

Wi Mugyeol smiled slightly and said.

“There are many good swords; must you insist on drawing that one?”

Saekma answered with a stolid expression.

“Nungseobultaekpil. It does not matter.”

It meant that one skilled in writing does not choose his brush; this was a remark mocking Wi Mugyeol’s attitude.

Wi Mugyeol smiled slightly and warned.

“Young Master Mong’s words are true, but a sword is not a brush; if it breaks suddenly, you could be gravely injured, so I warn you in advance.”

Saekma answered.

“The sword I hold will not break easily.”

A sigh flowed out from within me.

‘Ah, dammit……’

If Saekma was suddenly picking out cool lines because Wi Soseon was watching, then this guy was a severe case. An incurable disease impossible to treat.

Gwima also seemed to see Saekma’s conceit and opened his mouth.

“Don’t let your guard down.”

Saekma looked at Gwima.

“I wasn’t taught things like letting my guard down by my master.”

Gwima answered.

“Cut the crap.”

Saekma spoke to Wi Mugyeol.

“I am ready.”

I wondered if Saekma was skilled with the sword. Still, since his master was the Sword Demon, he must have learned the basics. The question was whether those basics would work against Wi Mugyeol…… Saekma and Wi Mugyeol clashed at once without further words.

My eyes widened.

Because the moment they started, Saekma retreated repeatedly. Moreover, Wi Mugyeol’s attacks were fierce. Looking closely, Saekma seemed to be retreating with intent. Wi Mugyeol poured forth his offensive without properly gauging Saekma’s inner power, swinging his sword.

Who was letting their guard down?

In my eyes, it was Wi Mugyeol who was letting his guard down.

Saekma moved as if his hands and feet were in disarray, knocking away Wi Mugyeol’s sword while widening the distance. The pursuing Wi Mugyeol moved as if sweeping the ground with his left foot, then kicked and brought his sword down vertically as if to cut the airborne Saekma in half.

Saekma received Wi Mugyeol’s vertically falling sword directly with the Yongdu Forge sword. Just before the blades clashed, the blade of the Yongdu Forge sword turned pure white, and with a metallic clang, the broken blade flew toward the sparring ring.

The startled Wi Mugyeol kicked the ground and retreated, then looked at the sword he held. Half of it was already gone.

Saekma, holding the Yongdu Forge sword, opened his mouth with a nonchalant expression.

“Oh? Did it break? Eldest son, use a good sword. I am more comfortable fighting bare-handed, but what should I do…… shall we continue with palm techniques?”

Saekma smiled with a wicked expression and sheathed the Yongdu Forge sword. It seemed he had infused his Ice Arts like sword qi to break Wi Mugyeol’s sword.

Wi Mugyeol, his complexion drastically changed, spoke in a rigid voice.

“Let us use palm techniques.”

Saekma snorted.

“Even better. Let’s.”

Wi Mugyeol said.

“Do not speak down to me.”

In this conversation laced with childish emotional sparring, Saekma was not lacking either.

“Eldest son, save the atmosphere-setting words for after you defeat me. I am not your retainer.”

At that moment, Wi Soseon, who had been watching, cut into the conversation.

“Orabeoni, Young Master Mong’s martial art is Ice Arts. Calm your mind and be careful.”

Saekma smiled while looking at Wi Soseon.

“This is not something that can be managed by being careful.”

Wi Soseon also nagged at Saekma.

“You are noisy.”

“She chatters with me and then tells me I’m noisy.”

For a moment, I giggled alone, but when everyone looked at me, I covered my mouth with my hand.

I cleared my throat and then spoke with a serious expression.

“I have an illness where I cannot hold back laughter. Let us watch again.”